It's a big bad world!

It's a big bad world!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Sometimes you need more than one brush...

I'm a little disturbed.  Now, of course..to many of you, that may not be news..but beyond that...I'm a little stressed about directions right now.
Not long ago...we wept..collectively...as dog lovers..over what happened to Rosie.  And inside..I still weep.  I'm PROUD of the monumental effort that everyone put forth to bring that event into the light..to make people see what happened..and to do our best to make sure that justice was served.  The situation was clearly unacceptable behaviour..and we rallied.  And now..we wait.  Because that's about all there is to be done at this time.  And if..in the end..an attempt is made to sweep this under the carpet..we shall rally again..and I will be there in any way I can.
There has been news stories of other events that were similar to Rosie..and each of us is rightfully outraged when we read of them.  Dogs shot with no provocation..and no reason to do so.  Sport killing of pets..so to speak.  And in each of those cases...I am equally dismayed..and more than willing to stand and be heard.  And I think publicity for those is ALSO justifiable..outrage is reasonable, realistic, and to be applauded.
BUT...
A new twist to this is appearing..and I personally find it a bit alarming.  The only phrase that really comes to mind for it is "cop bashing". The most recent dog shooting post that appeared on my facebook wall hit with a vengeance earlier today..several posts...a case here in Canada..where the police shot a bulldog that was actively lunging at the officer, during an altercation with the owner.
A situation where the police had been to the residence no less than twice a week for 80 days.
A situation where complaints had been filed for methamphetamines..drunk driving..weapons..and assault.
Now..where I live...I would seriously be a little nervous as a peace officer, going into a situation where I was dealing with an agitated person...with that kind of recent history. Methamphetamines..weapons..and assault are not conducive to peaceful interaction.  And when that someone came out yelling and released his two bull dogs..one of whom was lunging and trying to bite ..things got ugly fast.  This was a dog that did not retreat even after being smacked three times with a baton...and who was actively preventing the officer from restraining the person he/she was dealing with.  Hmmmm.
 I'm sorry..I'm having a LOT of trouble framing this along side of Rosie's tragic demise.
Reviewing the posts of the last few days...another one..where a dog was shot during a drug raid..and the question was the lead in for the post....ARE MY DOGS NOT SAFE IN MY OWN HOME???  Now..a headline about a dog being shot during a drug raid does NOT shiver me timbers, you know?  Mainly because...I don't have drugs in my house..I'm NOT cooking meth on the back burner..and because of that..I think it's pretty unlikely that the police are going to come to my house for anything but to ask directions.  They've done that a time or two..and they have never YET cuffed me or done anything to make my dogs see them as a threat.  IN fact..once, while giving a witness statement for something, the officer sat at my table and let my puppy try to remove the rubber sole off his boot, and they had a lot of fun together.  So, unless you ARE doing that kind of thing, I don't think you are actually on the mind of the police either.  Really, I don't think they care what the law abiding, normal citizen is doing most of the time.  They aren't going to drop in casually to see if you have a dog they can shoot.  And making statements like that is, sadly.. a little too tabloid for my tastes.
When I foolishly voiced my concerns about all of these cases being lumped together as excessive force..I was advised that the group was "losing momentum"..and keeping these dog shooting on top of the pile...would prevent that from happening.  And I thought..oh..my.
That was my cue that maybe it was time to step back, because I don't WANT my name attached to anything that applies equally to an innocent pet being shot or a meth house guard dog being shot.  I don't WANT my name attached to the concept that an officer who is being actively attacked in THAT kind of situation should stop and try to make friends..even if it endangers his life.  Nope..sorry..does not work for me.

I suddenly realized that there were interchangeable terms here..."losing momentum" just MIGHT become interchangeable with "losing credibility". Why?  Because I don't think your average intelligent citizen thinks it is reasonable to expect a police officer to be a chew toy for a watchdog at a meth house...or any similar situation.  I don't believe that they should be vilified for justifiable situations. And if we, as dog lovers..keep standing on our soapbox, wringing our hands about the "poor doggy" when the situation is suspiciously a valid situation, it is not going to take too long for us to completely lose credibility. And when that happens...we are not helping anyone.

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